High Martial Arts Era

Chapter 718 The Road to Eternity?

Inside the Emperor's Divine Palace.

With a whoosh, Li Yuan appeared out of thin air. He glanced around and saw that the surrounding area was still a pure white, invisible wall.

Inside this ancient secret chamber, the mysterious bald, purple-robed phantom reappeared. He looked at Li Yuan with a smile on his face and a hint of admiration in his eyes: "I already know about your battle in the Temple of Saints. You have opened the third Eternal Path?"

“Yes.” Li Yuan nodded.

The other party is likely to be able to perceive the entire situation in the Divine Wheel Sea, so it's normal that they know about it.

"However, according to the rules..."

“According to the rules, this is your second time entering, so you still have to personally unleash your Dao intent,” said the bald, purple-robed figure.

Without hesitation, Li Yuan released three magnificent and vast waves of eternal Dao intent with a thought.

The Way of the World! The Way of All Spirits! The Way of Great Destruction!

The three Dao intents were released one after another, and in an instant, they subtly combined to form a mysterious and profound fluctuation, causing a slight change in Li Yuan's life aura.

Mysterious, ethereal, and with a hint of timeless Daoist charm.

This is the original artistic conception.

And the moment the primordial intent was released... Boom! The mysterious Dao intent fluctuations throughout the entire hall instantly became boiling.

Countless waves of eternal Dao intent surged toward Li Yuan like a tidal wave, as if sensing an unprecedented attraction.

"Immortal intent? The conjecture left by the Emperor is actually true, it's truly unbelievable." The bald, purple-robed figure looked at this scene and couldn't help but say, "You are only at the God King Realm, yet you have actually condensed a wisp of immortal intent."

"Besides, you've only cultivated for a few thousand years," the bald, purple-robed figure sighed.

"Immortal Realm? What is that?" Li Yuan quickly asked.

"Haha, that's a long story," the bald, purple-robed figure laughed. "Do you know the conditions for becoming a ruler or a supreme being?"

"I understand." Li Yuan nodded: "To open up a second top-tier eternal path."

The differences between ordinary Emperor Realm, peak Emperor Realm, Ruler, and Supreme Realm... Little Tomb had explained this to Li Yuan a long time ago.

"Correct."

“According to my Lord Emperor Baidao, once a top-tier Eternal Path is opened to the fourth step, it is the limit under Eternity and can be considered perfect.” The bald, purple-robed figure said, “However, it is almost impossible to break through the shackles of the Eternal River with a top-tier Eternal Path.”

“Low-level Quasi-Saints generally only open up their inner world, so their origin is weak and can only bear one Eternal Dao. Those who can open up two Eternal Daos are extremely rare,” said the bald, purple-robed figure.

Li Yuan nodded.

indeed!

Even with a powerful Star God cultivation system, the Ten Star Vein God Kings, if they want to open up two eternal paths, must first establish a foundation in the Heavenly God Realm.

The Purple Fire God King is an example of this.

“But high-level Quasi-Saints, that is, Emperors, all of them have opened up their inner universes. Even if the inner universes are strong or weak, they are still a universe that can bear two eternal paths.” The bald purple-robed figure sighed, “Therefore, over the long years, when Emperors found that they could not make any further progress by following one eternal path to its limit, they began to choose a path that could make them stronger, that is, to open up a second eternal path.”

Li Yuan understood that ordinary Emperor Realm cultivators all reached the fourth step of opening up a high-level Eternal Dao.

Their goal of achieving the pinnacle of the Emperor Realm is to strive to evolve their own Eternal Dao into a top-tier Eternal Dao.

And the peak Emperor Realm experts aspire to become rulers.

Not only must a second eternal path be opened, but it must be a top-tier eternal path, and a fourth step must be taken.

How difficult!

Therefore, the number of rulers is extremely small, but each ruler is undoubtedly powerful... The combination of the two top eternal paths not only makes the power of the path stronger, but also makes their inner universe origin stronger and their divine body and divine power stronger.

It can be said.

Regardless of their previous foundation, once the rulers achieve the status of ruler, their divine bodies and magical power will evolve to surpass the level of ten star veins, or even approach the level of a perfect ten star vein.

The further one progresses in cultivation, the more one realizes that the Dao is the core, driving one's all-round evolution.

"Although the rulers are powerful, they are still bound by time." The bald, purple-robed figure continued, "Therefore, the rulers yearn to become stronger, and at this point, different directions of progress arise."

"The Path of Fusion? The Third Eternal Path?" Li Yuan inquired.

"Ah."

“Some rulers with extremely strong divine foundations, such as the perfect ten-star vein, the ‘six absolute reincarnation bodies’ in the River of Reincarnation system, and the ‘twelve witch bodies’ in the Heavenly Witch system, etc., all have incredibly powerful inner universes and are expected to open up the third eternal path,” said the bald, purple-robed figure.

"Then, if one can open up a third top-tier eternal path and reach the fourth step level... the combination and operation of the three paths will allow the cultivator's inner universe to evolve to a near-perfect state, operating flawlessly, and the passage of time in the outside world will not be able to taint it."

"This is the Supreme Being! One has initially transcended the constraints of the River of Time, and is no longer limited to a lifespan of tens of millions of years," said the bald, purple-robed figure.

Li Yuan sighed inwardly.

Why would opening up three top-tier eternal paths cause such a huge commotion? Even the various god emperors within the Xinmeng Universe took the initiative to retreat.

That's the reason.

From the moment he opened up the three supreme eternal paths, a path to supreme power was already open to him.

"but."

“Not all rulers have such a strong innate foundation. Many rulers’ inner worlds are unable to bear the third eternal path,” the bald, purple-robed figure said. “Therefore, they chose another path—the path of merging with the Dao.”

"To combine different eternal paths to form a new path that surpasses the top eternal paths."

"Once they succeed, their strength will soar, and the Inner Universe will undergo a transformation." "They will also be revered as supreme beings." The bald, purple-robed figure said.

Li Yuan nodded in agreement. These were the two paths to becoming a supreme being, and also the two most mature paths explored by generations of Emperor-level powerhouses throughout the vast universe.

"of course."

"Whether it's opening up three top-tier eternal paths or merging with the Dao, it's all too difficult. The path to supreme power is incredibly arduous," said the bald, purple-robed figure. "Therefore, many powerful individuals resort to shortcuts."

"The Supreme Being of the Abyss?" Li Yuan inquired.

The path to the abyss is fraught with countless dangers.

But why did so many powerful figures in history willingly choose to leave? It was because the pressure of the cosmic cycle of reincarnation forced them to find ways to become stronger.

"Yes, becoming the Supreme Being of the Abyss by following the path of the Abyss is one way," said the bald, purple-robed figure. "There is another."

"There's more?" Li Yuan was surprised.

"In the ancient Heavenly Court, if one could obtain the 'Book of Immortals,' there would be hope of becoming a 'Heavenly General,' and one's strength would surpass that of a Sovereign..." the bald, purple-robed figure said. "There is also a path to the 'Ancient Ruins Realm' of the Long River Ruins..."

"Senior, what you're referring to all involves different eternal relics?" Li Yuan couldn't help but ask, "What about within the Immortal World?"

"Within the immortal world, there are also..." A complex look flashed in the eyes of the bald, purple-robed figure: "Every eternal relic contains a great secret, but the workings of heaven and earth involve both gains and losses."

"Becoming a supreme being through shortcuts will naturally lead to the loss of something, and may even result in a backlash." The bald, purple-robed figure said in a low voice, "Your talent is exceptional; unless absolutely necessary, you don't need to take these paths."

Li Yuan nodded slightly.

He could sense that the bald, purple-robed figure was very resistant to the special path to becoming a supreme being found in many eternal ruins.

However, one can glean some insight from the 'Path of the Abyss' that Li Yuan is familiar with.

As far as Li Yuan knew, the deeper and farther one went along the path of the abyss, the greater the influence of the abyss would be, and eventually, one would lose oneself.

Even if I achieve the Supreme Abyss by then, will I still be myself?
The stronger the individual, the better.

The more unwilling one is to be bound by others, the less one can persevere and reach the pinnacle over the long years without an absolutely strong heart.
Therefore, even knowing that the path to the abyss would make one stronger, only a few in the vast universe are truly willing to step into the abyss.

Other eternal relic paths, it seems, also have their own flaws.

"Senior, what about the immortal realm you mentioned earlier?" Li Yuan asked.

"Haven't you considered that, Supreme One, you either need to establish three top-tier eternal paths, or truly merge with the Dao?" the bald, purple-robed figure said. "And what if you were to merge the three top-tier eternal paths into one?"

A glint flashed in Li Yuan's eyes.

Never thought about it? Of course he had!
The moment the original artistic conception was born, Li Yuan had already considered this path, and his ambition was even greater... But to think about it doesn't mean you can do it.

Li Yuan was well aware of how difficult this path would be.

The union of the Dao is not as simple as the union of the eternal Dao... The union of different Daos is like putting two puzzle pieces together, which will make the power stronger, but ultimately they are still different Daos.

And in accordance with the Dao.

The essence is that a new path is born after complete integration... Each top-level eternal path represents the perfect embodiment of a certain aspect of the universe's operating rules.

To fuse three top-tier eternal paths? The difficulty is absolutely inconceivable.

"You have also studied the 'Hundred Paths Sacred Body', so you should understand."

"The so-called 'three paths as the foundation' is actually based on the complete fusion of the three eternal paths as the cornerstone," said the bald, purple-robed figure. "Master, when you were the ruler, you actually created three top-tier eternal paths and twelve high-level eternal paths."

Li Yuan held his breath.

What an amazing Emperor Baidao!

“Of course, not everyone who opens the path to eternity reaches the fourth step,” said the bald, purple-robed figure.

Li Yuan sighed inwardly. It was possible that the Emperor Realm experts, with their superior strategic vision, could open up more ordinary paths and even high-level eternal paths.

but!

If one does not integrate the Eternal Dao Intent into the origin of the Inner Universe, and does not take the fourth step... the increase in strength at the Emperor Realm will be very small.

However, there are only a few who are as strong as the Hundred Paths Emperor and have opened up so many Eternal Paths at the Sovereign level.

"But in the end, Master was unable to fuse the three top-tier Eternal Paths." The bald, purple-robed figure sighed, "Finally, due to the pressure of lifespan, Master had to settle for second best and only fused two top-tier Eternal Paths and one high-level Eternal Path."

"After success."

"It enabled the master's strength to surpass the Supreme level in one fell swoop. In the long years that followed, the master opened up more Eternal Paths... and was even revered as the Emperor of a Hundred Paths."

"but!"

“The master’s strength has not undergone any qualitative change because these newly opened paths are merely extensions of his original path of merging with the Dao.”

"My master once said that if a successor can merge with the Dao through the three supreme eternal paths," the bald, purple-robed figure said, looking at Li Yuan. "Perhaps, then one can truly prove the Dao of Eternity."

"Eternity?" Li Yuan suddenly realized.

"And the aura you exude, though still incredibly weak, is very similar to the aura your master possessed when he achieved Dao Integration, only much weaker." The bald, purple-robed figure's eyes were complex: "Master, call it the 'Immortal Aura'."

"this means."

"You already have the foundation for the unity of the three paths."

(End of this chapter)